Be accessible. Make time for students. Post your office hours; provide a means for appointments, and invite students to use that time.

Make students aware that you want to help. Develop rapport by making your students realize that you are interested in them as individuals.

Listen sympathetically; help resolve academic difficulty.

Personalize the university.  Know your students well enough to be aware of their individual academic and educational needs. 

Accept individual differences; consider the student’s perspective. Provide each student with personal attention.

Keep in contact with your students. Take the initiative; don’t always wait for students to come to you.

Be yourself.  Act natural and be realistic. (Most students can tell if you are only playing a role or pretending to be interested.)

Respect students’ rights to privacy with regard to confidential information.

Encourage students to realize their maximum potential

Be knowledgeable concerning academic requirements of the university, your college and your department. Understand reasons for academic requirements and be able to explain the rationale for requirements.

Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and job outlook. Assist students by helping them obtain a realistic assessment of their choice of major, as well as their career and educational goals. (False reassurance may only delay problems and position students for impending failure.)

Assist students with making short-term and long-term plans that are consistent with their abilities and interests. (Discuss course load factors such as academic background, program demands, employment, personal commitments, etc.)

Help students identify special needs and acquaint students with services and programs provided by the University.

Monitor students’ progress toward educational goals and keep accurate, up-to-date records of academic progress.

Be familiar with WKU resources. Know where to refer students you cannot help. Provide specific names and locations when you refer.

Check when you don’t know.When in doubt, call an appropriate office or department. It is easier and more productive to check than to subject a student to a lengthy search or run-around. Saying “I don’t know but I will help you find out” is much more appealing than having to tell a student that planned graduation will be delayed.

Accept student change. Be prepared to help students who decide to change their academic or career plans by referring them to an appropriate advisor in the student’s new area of interest.